The Tigers were holding a Fenway slim 4-2 lead, when they intentionally walked Kevin Youkilis in the bottom of the 9th inning , loading the bases to create a double play possibility at any base and setting up a match between lefty Phil Coke and lefty Ortiz. Ortiz responded by mashing a bases clearing double off of former Yankee Coke, giving the Sox a much needed 5-4 victory in this contest between the two 3rd place teams.
Dice-K started the game for the Sox today. In 6 innings, he gave up 4 runs on 8 hits and 2 walks while striking out 5 Tigers. Richardson, Atchison and Okajima held the Tigers in a cage for the remainder of the game- 1 walk from Richardson was all they could muster. The Red Sox did manage to bang 15 hits today, with every one in the line-up who had an at bat getting at least 1 hit, but they also stranded 10 baserunners. Ryan Kalish got 2 hits in his debut. Struggling reliever Okajima earned his 4th victory this season by pitching a 1-2-3 9th inning.
Sox 5 Tigers 4 BOX SCORE
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